Below is a list of the governors of early California (1769–1850), before its admission as the 31st U.S. state. First explored by Gaspar de Portolá, with colonies established at San Diego and Monterey, California was a remote, sparsely-settled Spanish province of New Spain. In 1822, following Mexican independence, California became part of Mexico.

In 1836, a coup led by Californios Juan Bautista Alvarado and José Castro eventually resulted in Alvarado becoming governor.^[1] That conflict ended in 1838, when the central government of Mexico recognized Alvarado as California Governor. The territorial diputación (legislature) approved the appointment.

Another disputed governorship occurred in 1844, settled when another Californio, Pio Pico, became the last Governor of Mexican California. In 1846, the "Bear Flag Revolt" in Sonoma declared California an independent republic—the "Bear Flag Republic". No government was formed, however, and the revolt did not have time to spread very far because California came under U.S. military occupation at the outset of the Mexican–American War less than a month later. California was ceded to the U.S. in 1848, and was admitted as the 31st U.S. state on September 9, 1850. Peter Burnett, the last governor of the post-war military territory, became its first state governor after admission.

The Spanish Empire established its rule in the Californias in 1769. During this time, the Californias encompassed a massive territorial expanse, including both Alta California (present day U.S. state of California) and Baja California (present day Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur), which were governed under a military administration led by the Governor of the Californias. In 1804, the Californias were officially divided into two administrations: Alta California, based in Monterey, and Baja California, based in Loreto.

Spanish governors of the Californias (1769–1804)

From 1769 to 1804, the Californias were governed as one administrative unit within the Spanish Empire. Following 1804, Alta California and Baja California each had their own administration.

More information No., Portrait ...

No.	Portrait	Governor	Took office	Left office	Notes
1st		Gaspar de Portolá (1716–1786)	1767	1770	Led the Portolá expedition Founded Monterey
2nd		Felipe de Barri (1700s–1784)	1770	1774	While Barri officially served as Governor of the Californias, Fages maintained effective military control over Alta California, taking advantage of Barri's government being based in Baja California.
Acting		Pedro Fages (1734–1794)	1770	1774	While Barri officially served as Governor of the Californias, Fages maintained effective military control over Alta California. Fages effectively stepped down as acting governor in 1774, at the request of Junípero Serra
3rd		Fernando Rivera y Moncada (1725–1781)	1774	1777	Founded San Francisco
4th		Felipe de Neve (1724–1784)	1777	1782	Founded Los Angeles Founded San Jose
5th		Pedro Fages (1734–1794)	1782	1791	Fages previously served as the acting military governor of Alta California from 1770 to 1774, during Barri's tenure, prior to officially serving as Governor of the Californias
6th		José Antonio Roméu (1734–1794)	1791	1792	Romeu died soon after his appointment, prior to officially ending his tenure of office.
Interim		José Joaquín de Arrillaga (1750–1814)	1792	1794	Arrillaga was designated as interim governor following the death of Roméu in 1792, until the appointment of Borica in 1794.
7th		Diego de Borica (1742–1800)	1794	1800	Founded Branciforte
Interim		Pedro de Alberní y Teixidor (1742–1800)	1800	1800	Alberní served as interim governor following Borica's resignation and prior to Arrillaga's appointment.
8th		José Joaquín de Arrillaga (1750–1814)	1800	1804	Arrillaga was served as Governor of the Californias until 1804, when the Californias were administratively divided into Alta California and Baja California. Arrillaga subsequently served as Governor of Alta California until his death in 1814.

Close

Following the Mexican War of Independence from the Spanish, both of the Californias became part of the newly independent Mexico in 1822. Mexican rule was interrupted from 1836 to 1838 by the Californio independence movement led by Juan Bautista Alvarado, who was acclaimed President of Alta California. However, Alvarado entered into negotiations with the Mexican government in 1838, which resulted in the disbandment of the Californio independence movement in favor of greater autonomy and the appointment of Alvarado as governor, thus reestablishing Mexican rule in Alta California, which lasted until 1846.

Following the American Conquest of California, forces part of the Pacific Squadron and California Battalion established U.S. military rule in California, beginning in 1846. Military governors ruled California until 1849, when efforts led by Bennet C. Riley led to the creation of the Constitution of California at the Constitutional Convention of Monterey and the establishment of civilian rule with the election of Peter Hardeman Burnett as the first Governor of California. Soon after, California was admitted as a state.

• Governor of California
• List of governors of California since 1850
• The Californias
• Alta California